Drip-pan.



J. MENZL & B. L. SCHWARTZ.

DRIP PAN. APPLICATION 'FILED 00T. 26. 1908.

940,040. Patented Nov. 16,1909.

UNTD STATES A' maar estaca JOHN IVIENZL AND BERNARD L. SCHWARTZ, OFDAYTON, OHIO.

T o all wtomlt may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN MENZL and BER- witnn L. SCHWARTZ, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of lvlontgon'leryand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDrip-Pans; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved drip pan for preventing theoverflow of water thereto from refrigerators, wash stands, and otherplaces which are not directly connected with a drain pipe to carry theoverflow from the premises.

The invention is especially adapted for refrigerators in apartmenthouses where more or less annoyance is experienced due to the overflowof water from the drip pan beneath the refrigerator.

In the accompanying` drawings, Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinalsection taken through the middle of the upper pan and through one of theside tracks in the lower pan. Fio. 2, is a top plan view. Fig. 3, is across section on the line c a of Fig. 2.

In a detail description of the invention, similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts.

1 designates the lower or base pan which is constructed of a suitablequalit-y of galvanized iron. This pan 1 is provided with two uprightsides 2 and a back 8, around which extends a` suitable rim l. The frontend of the pan 1 is provided with a down-turned flange 5 which extendsover a strip G and thus the said lower or base pan 1 is maintained inposition below the refrigerator. The strip 6 is an ordinary wooden stripand is secured to the floor a suitable distance in front of therefrigerator. The said pan 1 may be removed from such position byelevating it away from the retaining strip t3. The refrigerator is notshown in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that thebase pan 1 lies below the refrigerator at a suitable point for the sup-Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2G, 1908.

DRIE-PAN.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909. serial No. 459,508.

plemental drip pan to receive the drippings from the refrigerator.

8 designates the upper or supplemental drip pan which is inclosed onfour sides and on the top and bottom with the exception of an opening 9in the front end of the top closure 10. The top closure 10 has adepression 11 therein which lies below the drip pipe of therefrigerator, and a further depression 12 which communicates with theopening 9, so that the water dripping into the depression 11 iiowsthrough the opening 9 into the upper receptacle. A portion of the rearend of said pan 8 is removed as at 18, and an amount of water isdisplaced thereby corresponding to the area thus removed by extendinginwardly the upper portion of the rearward end of said pan.

14 designates two tracks that are remov ably secured within the base pan1; tiese tracks 14 are formed by bending the sheetmetal longitudinallysubstantially of a shape shown in Fig. 3. The rearward ends of saidtracks engage suitable lugs 15 projecting from the rearward end of thebase pan, and the front ends of said tracks receive lugs 16 secured tothe forward end' of the base pan. ln such position, the tracks aremaintained against any lateral or longitudinal movement, and yet theymay be removed by merely lifting them away from their retaining lugs 15and 16. Within each of these tracks is mounted two rollers 17 and 18,which extend through openings 19 in the top of said tracks.

It will be noted that the forward rollers 18 are mounted in lowerpositions than the rearward rollers 17. The latter rollers areapproximately in a line coinciding with the middle of the ripper drippan 8. The upper drip pan 8 rests upon the rearward rollers at alltimes, and until the weight of the water in the forward end of said panis sniiicient to tilt said forward end and cause that portion of the panto engage the front rollers 18. At that time the upper drip pan 8 rollsforwardly upon said rollers 17 and 18, and from beneath therefrigerator, where it may be seen. In thus moving from beneath therefrigerator, a bell 20 is sounded. This bell is mounted upon a base 21xed to one of the side tracks and is provided with a striker 22 whichextends from a pawl 23.`

The pawl 28 is pivoted to the base 21 at '24. A spring 25 engages saidpawl and maintains the striker normally away from the bell. A stop 26limits the striking movement of said bell striker. The pawl 23 extendsin the path of a toothed bar 27 in the form of a rack, the teeth orprojections of which engage the pawl 23 as the upper drip pan 8 movesforward on the rollers 17 and 18. The toothed bar 27 is secured to thelower side of the upper drip pan 8 in a proper position to trip the pawl23, and to thereby cause an alarm. The front of the upper drip pan 8 maybe provided with a plate 28 with any suitable inscription thereonindicating that the pan is ready to be emptied. Also the front of saidpan is provided with a handle 29 and the rearward end of the drip pan isprovided with a handle 30 which, in addition to its function of ahandle, also acts as a weight to maintain said upper drip pan 8 in alevel position upon the rearward rollers 17, as shown in Fig. 1, untilthe weight of the water dripping into said pan overcomes said rearwardweight. 1t will be understood that as soon as the amount of water insaid drip pan or rather in the forward end of the drip pan equals thatdisplaced in the rearward end by extending inwardly the wall 13, the pantilts downwardly at its forward end and engages the front rollers 18 asbefore stated. The forward end of the upper drip pan is provided withastop 3l which engages the front end of the base pan and stops thetravel of said pan 8 in a position where it is exposed to view.

32 designates two bars which extend voutwardly from the rearward end ofthe upper drip pan and engage shoulders formed in the side walls 2 ofthe base pan by cutting said side walls as at 33. When the upper drippan 8 is in a level position, this engagement between the bars 32 andsaid shoulders prevents any accidental forward movement of the upperdrip pan before it has received the full quantity of water drippingtherein from the refrigerator. lWhen the pan 8 tilts forwardly, the bars32 rise out of the notches 83 and thus the upper drip pan becomesdisengaged and free to move forwardly on the rollers. It will be seenthat when the upper drip pan 8 thus travels from beneath therefrigerator, it may be easily removed by means of the handle 29,emptied and replaced.

We claim:

1. A flat drip pan adapted to be placed under a refrigerator, the samehaving a top closure provided with a gutter extending approximately fromone end to the other end of said top and communicating with the interiorof said pan through an opening einem therein, and a handle attached tothe end of said drip pan containing said opening.

2. The combination with a base pan, of a supplemental drip pan supportedin said base pan upon rollers, and means for maintaining saidsupplemental drip pan in a level position until the water entering it isof suflicient weight to cause the forward end of said drip pan to engagea forward set of rollers, at which time said supplemental drip pan movesforwardly in the base pan.

3. The combination with a base pan, having tracks therein, an upper drippan supported upon said tracks with intervening rollers, the rearwardrollers forming a pivot for said upper drip pan to turn upon when theweight of the water entering said upper drip pan becomes excessive inthe portion of said drip pan lying in front of the rearward rollers.

L1. The combination of a base pan having removable tracks therein, andmeans for securing said base pan at its forward end to a floor beneath arefrigerator, rollers mounted in said tracks, a drip pan supported uponthe rearward rollers and adapted to engage the forward rollers to travelthereon from beneath a refrigerator, said drip pan having a depressionin its upper side, and an opening leading from said depression to thefront portion of said drip pan, and means for maintaining said drip panin a level position until the weight of the water entering the same issufficient to cause said drip pan to tilt forwardly in engagement withthe front rollers.

The combination with a base pan, removable tracks in said base pan, adrip pan supported on said tracks on intervening rollers, said drip panhaving a portion of lits rearward side extended inwardly to vreduce thecontaining area of the rear end of said drip pan, and the upper side ofsaid drip pan having a depression to receive the dripping water, saiddepression communicating with the interior of the drip pan at itsforward end, and means for maintaining said drip pan in a level positionon the rearward rollers until the weight of the water enter'- ing thesame is sufficient to cause said drip pan to engage the forward rollers.

(3. The combination with a base pan having tracks therein, rollersmounted in said tracks, a drip pan normally supported on the rearwardrollers in a level position, means for so supporting said drip pan untilthe weight of the water dripping therein overcomes the equilibrium ofsaid drip pan and causes it to engage the forward rollers, at which timesaid drip pan moves forwardly under the weight of its contents.

'7. The combination with a base pan having tracks therein with rollersmounted in said tracks, a drip pan normally supported in a levelposition on tlie rearward rollers, In testiinon)7 whereof 'We affix oursigna means for maintaining said drip pan in tures, in presence of twoWitnesses. suoli position until the Weight of the Water i v H ME f i i Zdripping therein is sutloient to canse it to JO N Y 1J i f tilt inengagement with the forward rollers, BERB ARD L SGH ARTZ und ineans forinterlocking said drip pan vWitnesses:

with the base pan While said drip pan is C. M. THEOBALD,

maintained in its level position. MATTHEW SIEBLEn.

